Chapter Eighty-Six: The Sealed Land

Fortunately, the passage through the spatial tunnel did not last long—about the time it takes for ten breaths. The three of them felt gravity vanish, and they gently landed on solid ground.

“Where are we?” Lin Xiaobao looked around, finding himself seemingly trapped within a shadowy chamber. The stone walls all around stretched endlessly into the darkness, their limits lost to sight.

“We could be inside the heart of a mountain, or perhaps in another realm entirely.” Even the well-traveled Chen Zhong was at a loss to identify their location.

“Wait… Purple Iron Blackstone, Meteoric Illusion Sand, Glass Buddha Milk…” As his gaze swept the surroundings, Lin Xiaobao was gripped by unspeakable astonishment. The space was filled with a vast trove of materials used for crafting magical artifacts.

Take Purple Iron Blackstone for example: the Wind and Snow Pavilion’s entire storehouse held no more than four ounces, yet the chunk before them weighed at least ten pounds.

Such resources were equally irresistible to Chen Zhong, famed throughout the world for his mastery of formations. Crafting artifacts was, after all, a branch of formation arts. It could be said that Chen Zhong’s skills in artifact forging rivaled his supremacy in formation technique itself. With so much precious material before him, how could he not be moved?

Lin Xiaobao watched Chen Zhong’s expression closely and, seeing only excitement rather than avarice or other darker motives, felt much relieved. If Chen Zhong had decided to kill him and Si Mengling for these treasures, neither of them would have stood a chance.

Of course, Lin Xiaobao’s lack of knowledge about affairs outside the Wind and Snow Pavilion left him unaware of Chen Zhong’s character. Anyone familiar with the man would know him to be loyal and righteous, incapable of such base conduct.

“Shall we divide these resources evenly among the three of us?” Chen Zhong, despite his superior cultivation, made no attempt to claim more than his share.

“Of course, of course—finders keepers!” Lin Xiaobao replied with a broad grin.

Truth be told, this arrangement put Chen Zhong at a slight disadvantage; Lin Xiaobao and Si Mengling would each receive a third, and Si Mengling was little more than a bystander in this adventure, yet she would walk away with an equal portion.

This generosity made Lin Xiaobao warm to Chen Zhong even more. He had to admit that in Chen Zhong’s place, he himself could never be so magnanimous. Though he could not emulate such nobility, he could certainly admire it.

“You two wait here,” Chen Zhong said, before vanishing in a flash to explore.

As Lin Xiaobao was still marveling at the abundance of resources, Chen Zhong’s excited shout echoed from the distance: “Come here, quickly!”

The urgency in his voice made Lin Xiaobao and Si Mengling exchange a glance and hurry over. Reaching Chen Zhong’s side, Lin Xiaobao was stunned by the sight before him.

Heavenly Spirit Fire, Xuan Yang Flame, Righteous Blaze… A dozen different kinds of magical flames lay ahead—each one a prize fiercely coveted by artifact forgers. Now, separated and contained by formation barriers, neither their aura nor their heat escaped in the slightest, making the three marvel even more at the master of this place.

Chen Zhong’s heart was filled with regret. Across thousands of years, he had collected only three such flames, yet both the quantity and quality of these present surpassed his own collection by an immeasurable margin.

Still, his regret was not over the gap between himself and those who came before, but because once they left this sealed realm, they would never be able to return, nor could they take these flames with them. To leave such treasures behind was a true pity.

Calculating the time, Chen Zhong cast one lingering look over the flames and said, “If only I had more time—I would have crafted a magical artifact for each of you. But we must gather these materials quickly.”

At this, he felt a pang of guilt. The seal was a peculiar existence: since the three had entered together, whoever left first would cause the others to be expelled as well. But urgent business pressed him; he simply could not afford to delay any longer.

“You’re leaving?” Lin Xiaobao understood the situation, but was puzzled. According to Chen Zhong, he had waited four hundred years—why the sudden rush? Even he, tempted by the dozens of magical flames, found it hard to resist. Could Chen Zhong truly be unmoved?

“To be honest,” Chen Zhong sighed, “I did not linger here for four hundred years because of this ancient seal, but to obtain the Blood Sun Mystical Shoot in order to refine a Yin Pill. Now that I have it, I must seek out the Alchemy King to help me, or I may not have enough time.”

“If you succeed in making the Yin Pill, would you still need to leave in such haste?” Lin Xiaobao asked earnestly.

It then occurred to Chen Zhong that Lin Xiaobao seemed to have extraordinary skill in alchemy. But with only first-stage spiritual cultivation, Lin Xiaobao would not have formed his own natal true fire yet, and thus could not possibly refine a Yin Pill. Somewhat disappointed, Chen Zhong replied, “That’s true, but unfortunately your cultivation isn’t strong enough yet.”

“Cultivation doesn’t matter!” Lin Xiaobao declared at once, pointing at one of the flames. “Look—there’s Netherworld Ghost Fire over there, isn’t there?”

“You mean, you could refine the Yin Pill here?” Chen Zhong’s disbelief was tinged with hope.

He had considered seeking the Alchemy King, Long Xinghe, but could not be sure of success. For ordinary pills, he could perhaps rely on old acquaintance, but the Yin Pill went against the natural order, and refining it could even affect one’s chances of surviving future tribulations. Whether the Alchemy King would help was uncertain.

“If there was a pill cauldron, I see no problem,” Lin Xiaobao said seriously.

“You’re willing to help me refine it?” Chen Zhong pressed. Though he lacked a pill cauldron, with so much material around them, forging one would not be difficult for him.

“Fate has brought us together. If you trust me, of course I’m willing to help,” Lin Xiaobao replied with a smile. In truth, if Chen Zhong’s departure would not force him and Si Mengling out of the seal as well, he would never have offered. Those flames, which Chen Zhong could not take away, might yet be within his reach—he merely needed time, and was happy to make the effort.

To refine the Yin Pill was to defy the heavens and risk future tribulations becoming all the more severe. Yet, with those flames in hand, Lin Xiaobao was confident he could withstand whatever came. This was a secret of the Supreme Celestial Fire Technique—one not to be shared with outsiders.

“Very well! Little brother, since you’re willing to help me, succeed or fail, you are now my friend for life!” Chen Zhong declared. He reasoned that instead of seeking the distant and uncertain aid of the Alchemy King, it was better to trust the young man before him. Judging by his abilities, age was not a fair measure of his true power.

“Chen Zhong…” For the first time hearing his name, Si Mengling furrowed her brow in thought. That name sounded familiar, but she could not, for the moment, recall where she had heard it before.